04/23/24
January 15, 2003
Even though he offered to take a salary cut, Steve Mariucci has been fired as the coach of the San Francisco 49ers. CNNSI ponders whether the move was related to an NFL-decreed moratorium on coach-for-draft-pick trades.
This is surprising to me. I thought they would work it out. He'll only be out a job as long as he wants to be. Maybe next year he can go coach the Bengals?
posted by vito90 at 04:32 PM on January 15, 2003
coach the Bengals? Marvin Lewis already got hired for that. Interesting to see how long he lasts there! Any speculation on who gets the job now? Ray Rhodes? Dennis Green?
posted by PeteyStock at 04:37 PM on January 15, 2003
They say Green is the early favorite. So most likely it'll be 8-8 or worse next year. I don't think any coach could have done a better job in those circumstances in SF. What is it about bay area coaches and owners never getting along? All kinds of success for both football and baseball teams, and 4 new coaches in 2 years.
posted by Bernreuther at 04:43 PM on January 15, 2003
Another possibility is Jim Mora Jr., the current defensive coordinator. As a Niners fan, I don't really have anything against Mariucci, but nobody can deny there were some problems between him and Donahue/Walsh/York. I'm surprised we didn't try to get some draft picks from the Jags... 8-8 or worse? I'm gonna be biased and say we'll do better than this season, regardless of who's coaching. :)
posted by swank6 at 04:57 PM on January 15, 2003
Given that yesterday the Jaguars said they won't hire an employed coach, Mariucci could get the job. Much to the chagrin of Ferentz, much to the joy of Hawkeye fans.
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 06:39 PM on January 15, 2003
Apparently Mooch has said he's taking a year off to go into broadcasting/relax. Looking like the new coach of the Jaguars will be Jack Del Rio...not sure what to make of all this. Del Rio has shown that he's got a good defensive mind, so he could wind up being a good head man. I was looking forward to seeing what Mariucci could do in Jacksonville, so I'm disappointed. Guess we'll see how this plays out...
posted by bcb2k2 at 08:36 PM on January 15, 2003
I think Mariuci did as good with what he had to work with this season as anyone did, so I don't see the 49ers improving in the first year under a new coach. (Although John Gruden has certainly done very well his first year at Tampa Bay.) However, Mariuci conceded last week's playoff game in the first half by letting time run out without try for at least a field goal. Publicly displaying a lack of confidence in his team like that could have contributed to his getting fired. Unless, of course, he knew he was getting fired anyway, like Tony Dungy last year.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:05 PM on January 15, 2003
If a playoff-game concession is a fireable offense, Mike Sherman in Green Bay should be sweating. In the playoff loss to the Falcons at Lambeau Field, he decided not to challenge a second-quarter punt fumble that hit a Falcons player first and would've been reversed. Does anyone know the explanation for that gaffe?
posted by rcade at 07:26 AM on January 16, 2003
rcade - Jesus I thought that was absolutely the play of the game. That was an absolutely huge momentum swing and I was yelling at my tv for him to appeal the call. But I think most teams rely on their coordinators upstairs to monitor the replays and inform the coach if they should challenge a call. So unless they suggested he challenge and he overruled, some blame has to go to them.
posted by vito90 at 07:49 AM on January 16, 2003
Here's my call on the situation — Mariucci sits out a year to do TV (please, God ... have him replace Deion on CBS), then takes the Rams job in 2004 when Martz proves to the world this year that he's a complete dumbass. Steve-O and the Rams? Fuhgeddaboutit!
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:58 AM on January 16, 2003
Mooch got a raw deal, if he duplicated what he did with the 49ers with nearly any other team in the leauge, he would be getting an extension, not the boot. I hope it will be a good move for him though, it was just a bad situation, especially when your star player doesn't agree with your game plan. He won't be without a job for long.